Most 7^th graders will take SAT test for Duke TIP purpose December each year. What is Duke TIP SAT and why should a 7^th grader take SAT test? Here are the official explanations from Duke TIP program.

Duke TIP’s 7th Grade Talent Search helps academically talented students identify their strengths, develop their abilities and interests, and celebrate their achievements at a crucial time when they are forming their identities and looking ahead to the future. Participants learn about their strengths with an above-level test (either the ACT or SAT) and receive benefits like specialized publications and resources, educational guidance, recognition of their abilities, and academic challenges. Enrolling in the 7th Grade Talent Search is also the first step to attending TIP’s renowned online and face-to-face educational programs.

Based on student’s SAT performance, students will award State recognition if his/her score is at or above the national average of recent high school graduates on at least one part of the SAT. Students will receive Grand recognition scored at or better than 90 percent of recent high school graduates taking the SAT. Only about 3 percent of all the participants in the talent search qualify for the Grand recognition.Last year's cut-off scores are listed below.

Since SAT test is designed for high-school students, many math concepts, and the content and format of the reading and writing sections, will be unfamiliar for seventh graders. ACES Learning Center is offering an SAT preparation course specially designed for the seventh grader Duke TIP SAT students. The instructor for the course will be Chris Baker. He is in his fifth year teaching the SAT for ACES Learning Center and is very familiar with ACES students. Chris prepared the following course introduction video for students and parents to better understand the objective of the course, the approach and the materials to be covered.

Best Regards,

ACES Learning Center